WOMAD Charlton Park is the name given to the World of Music Arts and Dance ( WOMAD) festival held in Charlton Park in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England, since 2007. It is the direct successor to WOMAD Reading, which was held in the town of Reading each year from 1990 to 2006, and previous WOMADs elsewhere in England since 1986. WOMAD festival is held on the last weekend of July, and currently lasts three and a half days, stretching from the Thursday evening to early Monday morning. The line up is predominantly World music, but

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...

, jazz, hip hop, electronic and rock artists also appear.

WOMAD origins

WOMAD was pioneered by various international artists, notably

Peter Gabriel Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and activist. He rose to fame as the original lead singer of the progressive rock band Genesis. After leaving Genesis in 1975, he launched ...

Shepton Mallet Shepton Mallet is a market town and civil parish in the Mendip District of Somerset, England, some south-west of Bath, south of Bristol and east of Wells. It had an estimated population of 10,810 in 2019. Mendip District Council is based t ...

, where the first concerts took place in 1982. Peter Gabriel is still a major driving force behind the organisation and its various branches of activity in the music industry.

WOMAD in England 1982–2006

Reading became the regular site for WOMAD in the UK, 8 years after its inception, and the festival became established there over 15 years. The first Womad Reading was held in 1990, and the last festival was held in 2006. Previous festivals had occurred in Shepton Mallet 1982, Mersea Island 1985, Clevedon 1986, Carlyon Bay 1987, Bracknell 1988, and Morecambe 1989-1997 The festival took place every year on the last weekend of July, at the Rivermead Centre and

Little John's Farm The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend. The Reading Festiv ...

in Reading. By the end of its run in Reading, the festival had three stages: * The Open Air (or Main) Stage * The Siam Tent Stage * The Village Stage

WOMAD Charlton Park 2007

In light of the mud caused by poor weather prior to the first festival in its new location, and on the Saturday night, many festival goers nicknamed the festival WOMUD. Since then, it has been relocated on the estate, as in the WOMUD year, the children's field was inaccessible due to it being flooded.

WOMAD Charlton Park 2008

WOMAD 2008 was luckier, a weekend of sunshine in an otherwise poor summer. The 2008 festival was well received and reviewed for its broad line-up and inclusive atmosphere. Mercury Prize-winner Roni Size Reprazent said: "''What makes this festival different from every other festival that I've been to is when you walk into the tent. It's filled up with kids and buggies and their mothers and their fathers. Now that is an unbelievable sight.''" ;Arena: The format has evolved and expanded since 1986. Stages in 2008 included: * ''Open Air Stage'': Sometimes referred to as the Main Stage, it is one of the two stages sharing headline acts, along with the Siam Tent. This stage hardly ever double books with the Siam Tent, as all the biggest artists usually appear on either stage. * ''Siam Tent'': Introduced in 1998 as an alternative to the Open Air Stage. * ''Big Red Tent'': The third main stage. * ''Little Sicily'': A quieter haven for acoustic acts and conversation, with tables and chairs. * ''Dance Tent & Drum Tent'': Two alternating venues of workshops featuring mainly African and Latin acts. * ''BBC Radio 3 Stage'': Set outside the main arena, featuring many artists who also played the main stages, and broadcasting live on

BBC Radio 3 BBC Radio 3 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It replaced the BBC Third Programme in 1967 and broadcasts classical music and opera, with jazz, world music, Radio drama, drama, High culture, culture and the arts ...

. * "Taste The World Stage" Where artists who are performing elsewhere at the festival are invited to cook for the audience. While they cook they are interviewed by a host and answer questions from the audience, and may play or sing as well. Unique to WOMAD

WOMAD Charlton Park 2013

The headliners were Gilberto Gil, Rokia Traore, Seun Kuti and Lee "Scratch" Perry with

Max Romeo Max Romeo (born Maxwell Livingston Smith; 22 November 1944)"Respect to th ...

(replaced Toots and the Maytals) Arrested Development were also added to the line-up later on * Adjágas (Norway) * Alice Russell (dropped out) Replaced by DJ Cheeba (UK) * Amesmalua (Spain) * Asif Ali Khan (Pakistan) * Bwani Junction (UK) * Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (Italy) * Carminho (Portugal) *

Christine Salem Christine may refer to: People * Christine (name), a female given name Film * ''Christine'' (1958 film), based on Schnitzler's play ''Liebelei'' * ''Christine'' (1983 film), based on King's novel of the same name * ''Christine'' (1987 fil ...

(Reunion) *

David Rodigan MBE David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

(UK) *

David Wax Museum David Wax Museum is a folk and roots rock band blending traditional Mexican son music with Americana in what they call "Mexo-Americana". Husband and wife, David Wax and Suz Slezak, are its core members. Most of the band's albums have been self-rel ...

(USA) * Debapriya & Samanwaya (India) *

Dizu Plaatjies Dizu Plaatjies (born 5 February 1959, Lusikisiki, Pondoland, South Africa) is a Xhosa musician best known for being the founder and former leader of the South African group, Amampondo. He is a graduate of the South African College of Music, Unive ...

and the

Ibuyambo Ensemble Dizu Plaatjies (born 5 February 1959, Lusikisiki, Pondoland, South Africa) is a Xhosa musician best known for being the founder and former leader of the South African group, Amampondo. He is a graduate of the South African College of Music, Uni ...

(South Africa) *

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(France) * Emel Mathlouthi (Tunisia) *

Fanfare Ciocarlia A fanfare (or fanfarade or flourish) is a short musical flourish which is typically played by trumpets, French horns or other brass instruments, often accompanied by percussion. It is a "brief improvised introduction to an instrumental perf ...

(Romania) *

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Flavia Coelho Flavia (Latin for " blonde") may refer to: Places * Flavia Caesariensis, a 4th-century Roman province in the Diocese of the Britains * Flaviac, a commune in southern France People * Flavia (gens), the Roman clan and imperial dynasty * Flavia (n ...

( Brazil) *

Fredy Massamba Fredy is a given name, and may refer to: * Fredy Bareiro (born 1982), Paraguayan football player * Fredy Montero Colombian footballer with Sounders FC * Fredy Barth (born 1979), Swiss racing driver * Fredy Glanzmann (born 1963), Swiss Nordic combi ...

(Congo) * GOCOO (Japan) * Hidden Orchestra (UK) * Huun-Huur-Tu (Russia) * Iadoni (Georgia) * Jagwa Music (Tanzania) * Jesca Hoop (USA) * Katy Carr & The Aviators (UK/Poland) * Kissmet (India) *

La Chiva Gantiva LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figure ...

(Colombia/Belgium/Vietnam/France) * Le Vent Du Nord (Canada) *

Lévon Minassian Lévon Minassian is a French-Armenian duduk player. He was born in Marseilles in the district of Saint-Jerome. He played for the soundtrack of ''Mayrig''. He has collaborated with Charles Aznavour, Helene Segara, Peter Gabriel, Tony Levin, Armand ...

(Armenia) *

Mala in Cuba Mala may refer to: Comics * Mala (Amazon), an Amazon from Wonder Woman's side of the DC Universe * Mala (Kryptonian), a villain from Superman's corner of the DC Universe Films and television * ''Mala'' (1941 film), a Bollywood drama film * , ...

(UK) *

Malawi Mouse Boys Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northea ...

(Malawi) * Malouma (Mauritania) *

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(Iran) * Mokoomba (Zimbabwe) * Nano Stern (Chile) * Ondatrópica (Colombia) *

Parov Stelar Band Marcus Füreder (born 27 November 1974), better known by his stage name Parov Stelar, is an Austrian musician, composer, producer, DJ and designer. His musical style is based on a combination of jazz, house, electro, hip hop, and pop. Biogr ...

(Austria) *

Riot Jazz Brass Band A riot is a form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against authority, property, or people. Riots typically involve destruction of property, public or private. The property targeted ...

(UK) *

Sam Lee and Friends Sam, SAM or variants may refer to: Places * Sam, Benin * Sam, Boulkiemdé, Burkina Faso * Sam, Bourzanga, Burkina Faso * Sam, Kongoussi, Burkina Faso * Sam, Iran * Sam, Teton County, Idaho, United States, a populated place People and fictional ...

(UK) * Schlachthofbronx (Germany) * Spoek Mathambo (South Africa) * Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys (USA) * Syd Arthur (UK) *

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(India/Australia) * The Heavy (UK) * Urna & Kroke (Mongolia/Poland) The following performers were on the BBC Radio 3 Stage, a quieter stage for smaller acts (in order of appearance): * Mavrika (Greece) * Barrule (Isle of Man *

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(Ghana) *

Lucas Santtana Lucas Mascarenhas Santana (born October 18, 1970), known as his stage name Lucas Santtana, is a Brazilian singer, composer and producer from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. In his CD, Sem Nostalgia (YB Music, 2009), he recreates the Brazilian guitar tra ...

(Brazil) * Zykopops (Croatia) *

Roopa Panesar Roopa (Hindi: रूपा) is a female given name in many languages of India, which means "blessed with beauty". Roopa may refer to: Notable people named Roopa *D. Roopa, Indian police officer *Roopa (actress) (born 1960), South Indian actress. ...

(United Kingdom) *

Imperial Tiger Orchestra Imperial Tiger Orchestra is a Swiss group of modern popular Ethiopian music. Its name hints at the Imperial bodyguard band of the Halie Selassie era and Monty Python’s “Tiger in Africa” sketch It was formed after a jam organized by Genevan t ...

(Switzerland) *

Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band is a three-piece American country blues band from Brown County, Indiana. They have played up to 250 dates per year at venues ranging from bars to festivals since 2006. To date, they have released ten albums an ...

(United States) *

DJ Tudo e sua gente de todo lugar A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobile ...

(Brazil) *

La Pegatina La Pegatina is a ska and Catalan Rumba music group founded in 2003 in Montcada i Reixac. History The group began their career in 2003 under the name ''Pegatina Sound System','' with more than twenty performances on stage and a couple of songs ...

(Spain) *

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(Azerbaijan) * Guy Schalom & The Baladi Blues (Egypt) * DaWangGang (China (People's Republic) * KonKoma (Ghana) *

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(Scotland)

WOMAD Charlton Park 2014

The headliners for 2014 include Youssou N'Dour, Sinead O'Connor, Manu Dibango and Les Ambassadeurs. The initial headlining act, Bobby Womack, died a few weeks before the festival.

WOMAD Charlton Park 2020

WOMAD 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a virtual festival weekend being held instead. One band,

Will Lawton Will Lawton (born 24 June 1974) is a British singer-songwriter, pianist, hang player, and music therapist. He has been the song-writing force behind four EPs and six studio albums. Lawton’s music “''weaves a tapestry of live piano with a supp ...

and the Alchemists, however gained permission to access the site and recorded a short two song set purely to be "The only band to play WOMAD 2020", with the video and images being released via their Facebook and Instagram accounts. WOMAD was cancelled again in 2021 also due to COVID-19, citing a lack of government guidance on restrictions after 19 July, and as with many other British music festivals, the lack of cancellation insurance scheme from the government.

References

External links

Official website

E-Festivals entry
{{Major British Music Festivals Recurring events established in 1986 Culture in Reading, Berkshire Music festivals in Wiltshire July events World music festivals Malmesbury 1986 establishments in England